How to structure ‘Andrina’ essay This is to help you with the timed essay that everyone in class will write on Thursday 11 February.

Key Criteria for Passing the ‘H’ Critical Essay Paper Understand the main ideas and central concerns of the text Sustain a relevant argument, or line of thought. Engage with the text and evaluate its effectiveness Analyse relevant aspects of the writer’s craft and identify the impact on the effectiveness of the texts Provide evidence to support your line of thought, your analysis and your evaluation. Write effectively to make your argument clear. Be technically accurate in your writing.

These are the following choices of questions taken from an example Higher English exam paper. Which of these would be the most suitable to answer for Andrina?

1. Choose a novel which is influenced by the presence of a powerful or overbearing character. Show how the novelist creates this impression of the character and discuss to what extent you felt you could sympathise with him or her. 2. Choose a novel or short story in which a family disagreement plays an important part. Explain the circumstances of the disagreement and show how the writer uses it to develop theme and/or character. 3. Choose a novel or short story in which the writer’s use of setting in time and/or place has a significant part to play in your appreciation of the text as a whole. In your answer you must refer closely to the text and to at least two of: setting, narrative stance, theme, characterization, or any other appropriate feature. 4. Choose a novel in which the novelist makes effective use of symbolism. Show how the writer made use of this technique to enhance your appreciation of the text as a whole.

The best one is: 3. Choose a novel or short story in which the writer’s use of setting in time and/or place has a significant part to play in your appreciation of the text as a whole. In your answer you must refer closely to the text and to at least two of: setting, narrative stance, theme, characterization, or any other appropriate feature.

This following instruction is the rubric you will see at the top of the prose section. You must ensure that you cover some of these techniques in your critical essay: Answers to questions on prose fiction should address relevantly the central concern(s)/theme(s) of the text(s) and be supported by reference to appropriate techniques of prose fiction such as: characterisation, setting, key incident(s), narrative technique, symbolism, structure, climax, plot, atmosphere, dialogue, imagery . .

So you’re in an exam situation and you have picked your question… What should you do next? You should make a plan and jot down short notes about how the time and setting relates to the plot of the short story…

Create a mind-map or other diagram of what you know so far… Andrina. ‘Story within a story.’ i.e: PRESENT DAY: Effective opening Non-appearance of Andrina – heightening of tension Ilness and recovery. 5O YEARS AGO: The Love Story Visit to Post Office and Pub The Letter Final paragraph – full of hope.

Next you have to decide How can I relate these to the task? You do this by jotting down on your notes when about the setting events took place:

PRESENT DAY: Effective opening – cosy setting. Non-appearance of Andrina – heightening of tension- setting reflects this change Ilness and recovery. At home – recovers and four days later is well when Stanley delivers the letter. 5O YEARS AGO: The Love Story - late spring to late summer – romance takes place at night next to the sea – fairy tale setting with cruel, untraditional ending. Visit to Post Office and Pub – return to normality. Marked contrast to love story. The Letter - tragic, from a far away land. Sent in Oct. Reached him March. Final paragraph – full of hope. (Why?)

Now you have to decide what your line of thought or your argument will be. You might decide that it’s to show how Andrina, regardless of whether she is a ghost or a figment of Torvald’s imagination, is a positive symbol for hope and forgiveness, as she helps Torvald to overcome his guilt over what he did all those years ago.

Remember: it’s having a truly effective line of thought which you have proven through effective analysis and evaluation that will ensure you get a good grade for your essay. And of course, these all need to be backed up with quotations.

Remember too: You do not need to memorise the whole short story. You do need, however, to remember short phrases or even key words in order to provide brief evidence to back up your point And whatever you do, do not make up quotations!!!

Next Stage – Your Essay Plan: Now you need to plan the basic outline of your essay, before noting key quotations and other details to support your line of thought: Para 1: Intro (text, author – Refer to task.) Para 2: Opening intro Para 3: No return of Andrina Para 4: Flashback Para 5: Present Day Para 6: The Letter Para 7: The Ending Para 8: Conclusion (As in conclusion, and your evaluation on effectiveness of text in achieving your line of thought.

HOMEWORK Create a plan (2 sides of A4 only) which has: Quotations from the text. Notes on characterisation on Andrina and Torvald. This is for the timed essay task which everyone will sit on: Thursday 11 February. You will be allowed your notes (not typical exam conditions!) But you will otherwise have to write out the whole essay during the exam time.